Day 69

Okay so I was gonna be coming home today. There was two things I need to do today to be able to jump on a plane this evening. I had to get the paperwork from the judge, after she signed it, after that I need to get over to the embassy to get the paperwork to the consular to get him to issue the visa.
So I was up really earl and left and was at the courthouse at 8:30 am. On our way to the courthouse, I called and talked with the consular, and explained that I was getting the paperwork today and then I would be over there to be able to give him time to get the visa issued, he told me that they embassy closed at noon today so I need to be there by 11 am.
So I was at the courthouse and called our lawyer and told him I was there and he told me was gonna be the first one in line to get the paperwork as early as possible to allow me to the visa today. So I wait in the parking lot for the paperwork.
So it is now 11 and I have not seen or heard anything yet, I called Aaron. He told me I need go in and find out when it will be ready so I can let the consular know what the time frame will be. After I got off the phone with Aaron, I called the lawyer and he told me that they were no more the 20 minutes from being done. I then called the consular and told him what was going on and he told me was working on our visa at that moment looking at the pictures. So it looks like it might all end up working out.
Okay so it is not all working out today. It is 1 pm, the embassy is closed and I just now got my paperwork. So I will not be able to leave today. This means that I need to wait till Monday at the earliest to be able to Elliott's visa. So on Monday morning I will be going to the embassy first thing and working to get the visa so that I can leave at by 8 pm on Monday afternoon. This will mean that I will be home Tuesday afternoon. I am so excited to be home. Please keep praying, I need God's strength to continue through this.
So we got back to the house and there is another family here that is adopting a little girl. She is older then Elliott, but she wanted to play with Elliott. It was so funny to watch Elliott run and try and hide from her. So he is not to big on playing with other kids yet, but he will get there. So has learned how to kiss, he is actually kiss daddy's picture on the computer. We did a web cam chat with Aaron so he could see Elliott love on him. I am so excited to be home next week, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, the great thing is that I only need to deal with one more person and that person is an American, and he knows I am trying to get home. Please keep praying and I will see all you really soon.

Day 67

Well today the roller coaster continued... I started out this morning with Elliott running around the guest house playing and he is starting to talk more, he is saying airplane all the time, knows that daddy is in the computer and he said poopy the other day (here is hoping toilet training will be easy).
So we left at about 10am to go to the embassy to pick up the Visa, I was not able meet with the consular but his secretary told me that our visa was not ready and they have to do an investigation. I lost it. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving the embassy is closed, so that means I will have to stay here another week. I left the embassy and called Aaron, I cried and was so upset I almost throw up.
After talking with Aaron, I decided that I would go back to the embassy to try to talk with the consular to see what he needed and when I would be able to leave. I was told that I needed to get the final order that are to be signed by the judge, and that is prove enough of his origin and abandonment so that is the investigation that needs to take place. I know that the consular is working with us because I broke down crying on him. So I left the embassy and tried to call the lawyer to find out the status of the paperwork I need.
The lawyers phone was off, I knew the road that his office is located on, but I do not know what the name of the office is so I cannot go to his office. I called Aaron and asked if he knew the name and location of the lawyers office, but he knew the same thing I knew. I then called the baby home and they were able to get me in contact with lawyer. We went to pick up the lawyer (he will do almost anything for me now because I am crying) and take him with us to the embassy to see if he would take the lawyer's word that he will deliver the paperwork once it is signed.
We showed up at the embassy 5 minutes before they closed for the day. We meet with the consular and explained the situation to him. He told me there is no way he could issue the visa without that paper.
The good news is that the embassy is open on Friday. We had a friend in county call the judge's boss and she will be in at 10 am tomorrow to sign the paperwork. So we will get the paperwork tomorrow and then on Friday I will be at the embassy at 730 in the morning and get the visa right away. I will be able to fly out that night and home on Saturday.
So now that we got that all out of the way, we are back at the guest house, and Elliott is being a real joy, I think he knows mommy needs cheered up. He is playing with a balloon trying to hit me on the head with it. Then we found out while he was running around naked that he likes his extremely ticklish, but he really enjoys it. He loves bath time, yesterday he actually cried when I drained the sink after his bath. We is such a joy and we am so bless to have him in our life.
Please continue to pray that we get everything squared away for me to be home on Saturday, I know the prayers are helping so much. I feel as though this is the final push of the labor pains (Aaron said the head is out but he shoulders are stuck). I know God is carrying me through this and I will come out a stronger person. Thank you so much for all your support.

Day 66

Wow so I am in a numb shock right now….I just got back from the embassy and we will get his visa on Wednesday morning so we will fly out Wednesday night and be home thanksgiving afternoon…I am soo exited..I really am at a loss for words…God is so faithful!!! we really are coming home…God just keeps shocking me and showing me how much he does care and love me….I can’t even explain it all in to words just that I am one happy momma!!! I can’t wait to see all your faces!!

Day 65

Ok so still don’t have written ruling in hand…but I have the orders saying we are his legal guardians…so tomorrow morning we will stop by and see if judge is back in office and will sign the papers …then go to embassy if not Iam still going to embassy and my lawyer said to tell them he will deliver the paper when signed Iam praying it is all done in morning before appointment at embassy…I am also beliving I can get visa before the office closes down on Thursday before the holidays..it is suppose to take three to five days but they have does it faster…so Elliott it doing great other then throwing fits instead of talking ...he understands so that part is good but frustrating …but the bonding is going well ….he was starting to talk and kinda stopped so who knows…he kept saying airplane yesterday so he can he just maybe is still confused …he has been exposed to over five languages…He is loving the one on one time though …I am just so done and stressing for no reason over this last step the visa…I still allow myself to freak out because of past…every step God has shown himself so strong there is no way this is a Tiffany thing I just keep telling myself that God is in control…so no matter how it goes tomorrow I know it is Gods best…bottom line I just need this guy to tell me yes!! Which is no doubt other then my stinking flesh trying to get the best of me..I soo miss every one and will never take relationships for granted again…no one really should do life alone!! This has made me rely on God more but he gave us relationships for a reason… so pray for God best tomorrow…I want to come home now!!!! Ok I know that sounds so desperate …but it is the truth …love you all

Day 62

So I got passport in hand ..God is soo good…bad news is judge has been out all week sick so our paper is done just not signed ….the lawyer is going first thin in morning to see if she shows up and pick them up if not pray she comes in Monday before my embassy appointment…my appointment is not till 1pm so it should be ok….so I am praying she is starting to feel better as we speak….other then that Elliott is doing amazing running around like crazy playing….he loves it here as do I….all is well …just a sick judge is all…Good thing our God is a God that heals!!!

Day 61

Ok her is the news I did not move out yet because they were unsure if written was done and I did not want to make a trip and then have to come back….so I just found out the written is done and will be signed in the morning and I will pick up my passport …I then Get to move to the guest house….praise the lord!!! My embassy appointment in for Monday at 1pm….so I am praying I will get visa before Wednesday because the close down office for USA holidays….right now it is hard to celebrate because there are families here really struggling two are from UK and one lady just got he visa turned down ..one mom went to court and will not get ruling to dec16 so she had to go home …and then one family just got turned down to adopt form the baby home because the put on app that the have a glass of wine with dinner about twice a month….the director here is part of a rally legalistic group….it just breaks my heart…I just know how hard they have worked and my heart hurts….so I am excited to be able to leave and take some time to celebrate all God has done for us…no one story is the same and you never know what could happen ….Gods grace has been with me…I feel so blessed yet am hurting for all the other families ….love you all!!! Can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!!!!

Day 59

I can’t thank you guys enough for all your prayers !! I got to commissioner’s office at 7 am and met with him at 7:30…found out he was staying in office all day….praise the lord ..he said that I just had to wait for assistant to write up letter… well she did not get in till after 11 and was not in a hurry to do it until little man Elliott got hungry and started to cry …then all of a sudden the letter was sighed and handed to me..out the door we went!! So traffic was soo bad I had to walk to meet foster coordinator and the driver…we then went to apply for passport…I was so in shock my hands were shaking filling out the paper work….i so should not have been shocked over and over God told me I would be home on time…that I would never doubt his love again and that I was not walking alone…plus when I was reading through old testament I was like yes the walked away from God over and over But when the man of God said something the believed and did yes the they would quickly forget ….and then I was in Romans and obedient trust kept jumping out at me …and that is what decided to do…wow it is amazing Gods word really does work…ok so we will get everything on Wednesday and will make app at embassy on Thursday or Friday God will continue His work and I will have favor with them to get my visa Tuesday or Wednesday…I am soo exited !!!

Day 56

Ok we got the verbal ruling and our orders which is the short version of our written ruling…..it is official Elliott is our boy…..so that is the good news Bad news I went to apply for passport today and came into a little road block there is one man in all Uganda apparently that needs to give me a letter to allow me to get Elliott’s passport …well he is out of the office till Thursday….which may put me coming home for thanksgiving…plus embassy will be close for the holidays…this man is suppose to be in his office for short while to check his desk…so I will be there waiting to see if he will ask his sectary to write it up then some how get him to sign it…we don’t think he is leaving town just in conference…we will even take him the letter if need be…the issue is we don’t want to be pushy because they hate that…if not pray when he get in on Thursday I can apply for passport on the same day and it might be olds wise tale but people of got it back in 24 hr….then the embassy may have mercy on us knowing I want to get home for holidays….they have done it before …all our papers are in order….trust me ….there is nothing missing…I called the embassy and got right through to the guy which the lady at amani said she has not been able to and as called several times….he was very nice and said to call a couple day even day of or day advance to make app…they just don’t take walk ins….the guy knows our story because we called him when we found out Ethan had parents….he is the one that said all your papers our here if you actually get guardianship of orphan…he said right away that all our papers from usa were there….but our written can be done any time the lawyer said they our written already they just need to be typed out…so they will be done by Thursday if not before… so then I will move out of baby home…so putting it retrospect
Elliott is our boy and I know God will show Himself just like he did in court….I have know worries God is still in control and He will work it together for good in His time!!! Elliott is doing so good today he walked around the shopping center holding my hand which is huge since he doesn’t let me put him down…and he stayed clean in the same outfit all day….plus he was great with all the up down and running around we did…on the way home as soon as we got in car he fell asleep….He is such a gift and a gem….He got to baby home in august he was abandoned at police station on july 31..so even if we started with Amani he would not have been lined up with us….plus how fast they moved for us so Aaron could get home was just a act of God…there is no other little boy here that my heart swells up for…I know it was all God that got here he is not going to drop us now….fun no …But soo worth it!!!

Day 53 (cont...)

Well funny now not then…..
Ok so I didn’t go in order grr I knew I would do that I forgot the best part ….we got done with court and went over to shopping center..while the other lady went to Dutch embassy ….while we were there I decided to get the passport pics I needed …he got really fussy and would not cooperate…so after three tries …I asked the guy since I already got his pic once I just didn’t get enough could he just use that one..so I am like maybe he is still hungry …I know crazy…but I got out food and he seemed happy till two bites then guess what oh yeah another blow out in the stroller….praise the lord that a mom that is adopting here let me borrow it other words I would have been wearing it….because of the hip carrier…ok also were we were at happen to have one bathroom stall with a little counter and sink…he was not through when I got him to bathroom…he got it every were…so I took off the last outfit I packed and rinsed it out and used it as wash cloth to clean him off and everything else this was not pretty….mean while the social worker calls me to tell me she found a outfit for 10 dollars and asked if I wanted here to get it and bring it to me…so she comes in we decide that he just is way to stinky and I was running out of wipes…so we take the bar of soap from the bathroom and wash him in the sink..and damp him off with toilet paper …he screamed his head off…I then laid his rain coat in stroller and put the outfit on him and off we went…as we were leaving she told me of another outfit two dollars more that said mommy’s other man…after court I had to buy it..forget groceries… plus I decided maybe the pull ups we brought might be too big so I got smaller diapers pray they work…any ways thought I would share the other part of our day…

Day 53

Alright friends and family…I Don’t even know where to start and I write so random so let me go in order for once…we will try this and see how it works…so I woke up at 4 am because of a night mare not anything to do with court just one that you can’t go back to sleep because every time you close your eyes the image scares you…so I just took my time getting ready…I got ready then instant messaged Aaron and even did web came with me getting Elliott ready…I fed Elliott and good breakfast then…my ride then came and I rushed out with light on and everything out…so we got into town two hr before we need to go to court so me and the social worker Amy went across the street to get coffee and ended up ordering the hotels breakfast buffet..they didn’t charge for Elliott so he eat again…well all dressed for court he had complete blow out…so there goes cute clothes….and now we have a stinky boy… the waitress kept asking if he was my son I said we are going court today…she then asked well were is the mother…I told her the story and she right away was like no way and told all her friends they acted shocked …they then went crazy over him and said he will me come great man one day and will be next Obama…so we got back to court and waited for judge to show up….there was like 11 cases that was supposed to be seen today but we Got to judges door and there was one other group there other than me and another lady seeking Guardianship for a boy the same age as Elliott…so the other case went in and then our lawyer went in and talked to judge and then called us in both me and the other lady ….before we went in I was soo at peace and felt God go in ahead of me and then when we Got in there …I felt him so strong…I just knew it was all Good…so they did the other lady’s case before mine and before she was done Elliott already went through the popcorn I brought for him…and he did not want his toys he wanted more food…so I broke out the cookies…so as soon as she said the judge said she would have ruling on the 13th then I knew we were going to be all right!! They other lady left the room by this time Elliott was covered and me also in cookie crumbs once he had his full he started playing on the couch I was on and walking back and forth he was so cute and happy …the window was right behind us so he kept playing pick a boo all along not being to loud…I was so proud… I was so at easy all I could do was watch him…I already knew because I kept telling everyone it would be on Thursday…God told me after Tuesday you will never doubt my love ever again…so sure enough ruling is on Thursday!!...so what this means is on Thursday the lawyer will pick up verbal rulings and orders so on Friday we should be able to apply for passport….which takes 2 to 3 days… then next Thursday we will get written ruling and then we go apply for visa which takes 3 to 5 days …. So I will be moving to Kampala after next Thursday…So the normal response walking around with Elliot is stares of curiousness stares or glares….but today I was in shopping center a business man was walking in the same isle and turned around and said thank you and looked at Elliott and said for what you are doing…he was soo genuine and serious I almost cried…I am just doing what God has lead us to do I didn’t expect that….it really caught me off guard…so the ride home he was happy…we got to baby home right on time for dinner….I leave again at 530 in morning for his last doctors visit for visa…so pray we get orders on Thursday as well as verbal ruling….the orders is what we need to apply for passport on Friday…well long short of it …God is good!!! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted….I love you all and can’t wait to be home…

Day 48

All right well it is really confusing but I think I should have birth certificate tomorrow or Monday….they sent a guy the works at the baby home to go to get a form filled out by the police station Elliott came from but they did not cooperate it sound like but the probation officer talked to me ….so to my knowledge the lawyer is taking care of it…some time I think I understand what they are saying because the are speaking English to me then I found out we miss understood each other….so the think the court will take the longest like 1 to 2 weeks after court to get final…you go the first time the say yes and then you have to get a written ruling …but last time we went to court they said two weeks and we raised our hand saying we had travel plan and asked the honorable judge to please consider giving it to us early…and we got it a week later ..so the latest I will wait for ruling is till the 18th…and I was told today that the passports are getting done in 2 to 3 days and the visa is getting done in 2 to 3 days so we still are planning on being home the end of the month….I am so anxious…to get though court…so Elliott really played today for most of the time outside today outside of my arms ..I got so exited I ran upstairs to get camera..before I hit the stairs he was crying….I guess he was still watching me…. So 4 more till court…please keep praying Iam believing we are going to see God move …and he is really going to shine though all this…nothing really here is stable and there are so much power struggles here so as long as you make them feel you are under their control and then they are more willing to help you…if you are a loud American well ….not so much…..there are three mommas here adopting so that is cool…one even has the same court date….that’s kinda fun…

Day 46

Yeah one more weak to court!!! So my faith has been on a rollercoaster today….I don’t think my faith has ever been this shaken….I realize that I need to stand strong on the words God has given me and the word of God…so all those messages growing up and all the great times with God is what I am needed to stand on …well it is time to stand on faith and God word alone…the more I get God word in me the more I have to fight to stand…..well I am learning to not be moved by fear or emotions which is great…I know to really stand I have to get really to a breaking point and speak the words and promise God has given me out loud…that seems to do the trick…But God is making me work through this axitity thing and even though my emotions may by freaking out I still need to keep tacking and stay on the path he has put me on….I don’t know how many times I have backed out or stepped back because of this axitiy now I know that no matter what I cant be moved by emotions or fear….court is next week and I am standing on his promises of God not on Judge…so I am preparing for a miracle…..

Day 45

So today was so crazy ..so it started with us heading to the children’s ward in jija to get a Doctor to write a letter with a estimate birth date….I was feeling better till we stood around there for long enough…when we did go in to see the doctor she asked a couple questions looked at him and counted his teeth then started writing the letter…I just about lost it ….just waiting that whole time not knowing if they would even do it got my stomach in knots plus Elliott would not let me sit down and was tired and hungry….. so after that the run around was not done we had to go back to the hospital have them type up the letter then wait for the doctor to come and sign it on her lunch break then have the hospital sign it…so they estimated him to be a year and nine months so his Ugandan birth date will be sometime in January…well now that is done we can get his birth certificate before the court date praise the lord that step is almost done…so did I mention me and Elliot got to ride a boda boda twice nothing like being in the moment to make you step out side your fear.. I fine risking my life but with Elliott it was a different story ….it was not bad at all….I thought it was fun…sorry Aaron…so we are getting closer to the goal we still have to make it through court, immigration,and visa….then we are ready to come home…well Elliott got to spend all day with me ..not in the best circumstance but hey…

Day 44

Well I sent most of day in bed I get so nausea and dizzy when I stand up….i keep throwing up this is no fun !!! now I really want to come home….I am praying this ends NOW !!! I am force feeding my self the word and trying to stay positive but to be honest I am not doing the greatest job….I brought myself to go down and be with Elliott for a little bit before dinner which was good because he had a fever so I was able to give him some Tylenol…I felt worse after going up and down the stairs…. I feel God with me but it is still hard …you would think that would make it easier..well hope there are better updates to come….

Day 43

Sorry so slaking on the updates…we spent all day Friday trying to get a doctors to give us a estimate birthdates for Elliott’s birth certificate….it was crazy the sent us all over town…finally as we were sitting at jijja hospital being told to leave and the would not do it…the office cleared and the sectary asked if we need to see a doctor we said yes and she lead us in the owners jijjas hospital he asked us want we wanted and we told him we wanted a birthdates for the child to get a birthcertficate ..he said why bother..I then said that I was trying to adopt him and needed it for the embassy …he stared there for about 20 sec then went over to desk and wrote out the orders for us to get x ray and doctors app to get it done…praise the Lord….by the time we go y back to the house I was exhausted and started to feel nauseous I just thought it was stress and went to bed early…well the next morning I felt no better I was dizzy and nauseous by mid dad the nurse her noticed I was not feeling well do she did a quick a test for malaria it came up negative…..I woke up again today wore I get dizzy and throw up every time I stand up…so Iam trying to rest if off we will see…I think the antbotics make me more sick …..this to shall pass…